Health Department Fees on the Rise

For the first time since 2005, fees charged to around 500 restaurants and other food vendors for health department inspections will be increasing. The Allegany County commissioners approved the health department’s request to increase the cost of the inspections at their regular public business meeting. Brian Dicken, director of environmental health at the Allegany County Health Department, said like nearly every agency and department in government- budget cuts have drastically impacted services, and the fee hikes are necessary to simply help maintain a standard level of service. Dicken said the increase will raise about $28,000, potentially allowing the environmental health division to bring back one of two sanitarian positions lost due to budget cuts…